Rutgers Players, Recruits Getting Answers

Brian Dohn & Sam Hellman

04/18/2013

Rutgers took significant steps in stabilizing its basketball program today by reaching an agreement in principal with Eddie Jordan. The current and prospective Rutgers roster remains in question, however, and ScarletReport.com has the latest information.

In a month of questions and confusion, the Rutgers basketball team finally has some answers. Board of Governors approval is all that stands between the team and its new head coach Eddie Jordan and assistants Dave Cox and Van Macon will remain with the program, sources said.

The Rutgers roster got answers today at a team meeting, but cannot speak with Jordan until the hire becomes official. With approval not expected until early next week, many Rutgers players will continue to explore transfer options.

Guard Jerome Seagers and wings Malick Kone and Vincent Garrett have already received releases and are in the process of seeking new schools with none expected to return, sources said. Seagerars is in the process of setting up visits to other schools and has commented on Twitter that he is ready to move on.

Guard Eli Carter, who made similar comments via Twitter, and Mike Poole, potentially Iona bound, are also seeking releases from the school.

Star guard Myles Mack will also look around, but his high school coach Bob Hurley expects him to show Rutgers and Cox loyalty unless the situation worsens.

"When a group of them leave, I don't know how many will feel that they're going to want to stay when the numbers get low," Hurley said. "Myles could be very loyal, then look around and just see that there aren't any other kids staying. That's the biggest problem, I think, right now."

The changes in the Rutgers coaching staff and in the roster increase chances at playing time for those that decide to stay. Players looking to transfer are operating under the assumption that a waiver will be received to play immediately, which is not a guarantee.

In recruiting, the timing is even more urgent with JuCo signing day already arrived and the late-period for high school recruits coming to an end.

Jordan is expected to target his own prospects in addition to ones already on the Rutgers board. Former commit Chris Griffin is now Auburn bound, but prospects Shane Rector, Jon Severe and Craig Brown remain in play for Rutgers.

Rector will officially visit Missouri this weekend and is anxious to hear from Jordan when he takes over the Rutgers reins early next week.

"I'm stilling considering them," Rector said on Rutgers. "After they hire a coach, I'll have to talk to the new coach and see what his plans are…. I don't know much [about Jordan]. I know he was an assistant coach in the NBA, so that is good. He knows what he's doing."

Severe cut Rutgers out of his final four but will now reconsider the Scarlet Knights after being informed that Macon will stay onboard.

"It's big. He was the only coach I knew there," Severe said. "He's a great coach. .. We like him."

Brown is the lone junior college prospect and only player still committed to Rutgers in the recruiting class. Brown is eligible to sign but has not yet done so with Jordan yet to take over. He has not been in touch with other schools, and his coach expects him to sign with Rutgers soon.

"He has a relationship with Van Macon and keeping him there is important," said Broward coach Bob Starkman. "I see no reason why he still won't end up there. I expect it."